Cognitive Decline Treatment Q&A

It can sometimes be challenging to differentiate the signs of cognitive decline with symptoms of general fatigue, illness, or just an off day. With that in mind, cognitive decline occurs over a gradual timeframe with signs that slowly become more noticeable or resemble a pattern. Some of those signs include:

– Behavioral or mood changes, such as the sudden onset of anxiety or depression
– Decreased organizational skills
– Diminished sense of direction or ability to understand directions and instructions
– Feeling increasingly overwhelmed when you have to make plans, decisions, or carry out tasks
– Frequently forgetting about appointments, dates, recent events or conversations, or social engagements
– Increased impulsivity or loss of inhibition
– More irritable or easily aggravated
– Problems with vision
– Repeatedly asking the same questions or telling the same story
– Trouble recognizing familiar faces or places

The signs of cognitive decline or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are categorized into amnestic MCI and non-amnestic MCI. Amnestic MCI involves impairments with memory, while non-amnestic MCI involves impairments with other thinking skills and fine motor skills.

There is no set age for when cognitive decline starts, but it can begin as early as age 45. With that being said, it usually does not occur until individuals are in their 70s or older.

There is no precise cause of cognitive decline, and all of the possible causes of cognitive decline are yet to be discovered. While aging is the most common cause or contributing factor to cognitive decline, it can also occur due to various medical conditions, many of which are treatable. With that in mind, some medical conditions that have been known to cause cognitive decline include:

– Alzheimer’s disease or dementia
– Anxiety, depression, and stress
– Brain damage
– Certain medications, such as anticholinergics, sedatives, or tranquilizers
– Conditions that inhibit or release too much blood flow to the brain
– Delirium
– Hormonal or metabolic imbalances
– Infections
– Parkinson’s disease
– Sleep apnea
– Substance abuse or withdrawal

Whether it is possible to reverse cognitive decline depends on the primary cause of the cognitive decline in each case. In some cases, cognitive decline cannot be reversed but can be slowed with the proper treatment and lifestyle habits. For instance, there is no cure for cognitive decline caused by aging, Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or Parkinson’s disease. Still, there are effective treatments that can minimize the effect of those conditions. In other cases, particularly when a general health condition or medication is causing the cognitive decline, it can be reversed or improved upon by changing the medication or finding the right treatment option.

We are proud to provide highly effective treatment options for individuals dealing with cognitive decline at the clinic of Mohamed Nassar, MD. If you would like more information about cognitive decline, treatment options or want to make an appointment with us, please feel free to do so by contacting us or scheduling an appointment online.. The clinic of Mohamed Nassar, MD, is located at 255 Terracina Blvd, Suite 105 Redlands, CA 92373. We serve patients from Redlands CA, Loma Linda CA, Mentone CA, Highland CA, Moonlight Rim CA, Grand Terrace CA, El Casco CA, Greenspot CA, and surrounding areas.